Monday, January 19, 2009

Italian Forces RWA (Ready, Willing & Able) To Participate In A Gaza Peace Mission / Italy Considers Participating In A Gaza Peace Mission - Report

Italian Forces RWA (Ready, Willing & Able) To Participate In A Gaza Peace Mission / Italy Considers Participating In A Gaza Peace Mission - Report (NSI News Source Info) ROME - January 19, 2009: Italy's Defense Minister Ignazio La Russa said Sunday the government is considering deploying security officers and two ships as part of a possible peace mission in Gaza, ANSA news agency reported. Italy foresees "the possibility of sending two ships as well as a modest contingent of security officers to the Rafah border post" between Egypt and the Gaza Strip where EU forces are already stationed, he said. After a summit of European and Arab leaders in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said his country was willing to participate in sea operations to help clamp down on arms smuggling via Gaza's coast, Italian media reported. He also said that Italian forces may be sent to control border posts. On Saturday, Italy, Germany, France and Great Britain pledged their support in letters to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to work to stop weapons smuggling to Gaza. Israel launched a military offensive in the Hamas-ruled Palestinian territory on Dec. 27 to quash rocket attacks from Gaza into the Jewish state.

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